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“Why are you afraid of small spaces?” I ask, and immediately wish that I could take the words back as her amusement fades.

There’s an obscenely violent knock at the door, and I thank the Gods for the interruption. As much as I want to know, and plan to find out, I want her to want to tell me instead of being tied to a pinky promise.

“Come in!” I yell, because I rarely lock my door.

“Silla, are you here?” Isaac growls as the door is thrown open. Pretty sure the fucker left a dent.

“I am. Did I lose track of time again?” she asks innocently, and my palm twitches on his behalf. This girl is a handful.

“I’m having trouble not throwing you over my shoulder right now,” Isaac sighs, slamming the door closed to pick her up and sits her on his lap.

With Silla cuddled in his arms, he continues, “I think I’m going to be really sensitive about being able to find you after yesterday.”

Wincing, she turns and kisses his jaw. “You’re right. Today has kind of sucked, so I’m super spacy. Thank you for coming to find me,” Silla says sweetly.

Fuck, this girl is going to give me a cavity.

“Everything okay? Did you get to eat?” Isaac asks her, and it makes me wonder if this is something I’ll have to watch.

“I did, and Ayden kept me company,” Silla explains, and I preen.

…Except it makes me remember why we’re in my room after the hallway incident, and my eyes drift to the still slightly reddened spot on her forehead.

“I caught up to her after dinner, and her head was having a conversation with the wall,” I tell Isaac conversationally and Silla’s eyes widen in accusation.

This wasn’t covered under the pinky promise, so I’m in the clear.

“Silla…” Isaac says, and she sighs, turning to straddle his waist to talk. Lucky bastard.

“I was walking and some guy knocked me into the wall. It only hurts a little, and it’s not even the worst thing that’s happened to me in the last forty-eight hours,” Silla explains quickly.

“That’s not at all reassuring, Kitten,” I admonish for him.

“Thank you! The truth bombs are maddening.” Isaac sighs. “Little Hacker, we’re really going to work on that.”

Pretending she’s way more angelic than she is, Silla smiles serenely. “Ayden got the guy off of me, and then offered me ice cream as compensation.”

Isaac snickers. “Baby, is ice cream all it takes to turn your day around?” he asks, and I get a funny feeling in the pit of my stomach.

I wish Silla was that comfortable with me.

“Sometimes,” Silla chuckles. “I really didn’t mean to lose track of time.”

“You’re fine, I can see the red spot on your head. It doesn’t look too bad… Does it hurt at all?” Isaac asks, to which she shakes her head in denial.

Doing the most adorable little butt wiggle, she says, “I’m fine. I do believe I was promised one on one time with a computer though.”

“Am I interrupting a date?” I ask drolly, and Silla glances over in surprise.

“I’ve never been on one of those,” she laughs. “No, the Warden agreed that I can work on my hacking skills with Isaac.”

Isaac and I stare at Silla hungrily, though I’m sure she’ll never give me a chance. “That was nice of the Warden,” I say instead, because he has shown her more interest than normal.

I thought it was just because of the incident yesterday, but I wonder if there’s more. Silla gives me nothing as she shrugs. “Apparently I scored high on my assessment, and it’s intended to keep me out of trouble.”

Snorting, I lean forward, wishing I could touch her. “I very much appreciate his worry, because trouble tends to find you,” I tease.

Isaac glances over at me, confusion in his eyes that I’m not being an ass. I may not be turning over a new leaf, because I’m not, but I am willing to make an effort.